Pilea plant named ‘MOSPILMOJ’

ABSTRACT

‘MOSPILMOJ’ is a distinctive  Pilea  plant which is characterized by the combination of a broad spreading to upright habit, variegated orbicular foliage with long petioles borne on a short main stem, green to yellow-green juvenile foliage that is mottled with a very light shade of yellow-green generally appearing as a yellowish coloration, green mature foliage that is conspicuously mottled with a light shade of yellow-green generally appearing as a very light green coloration, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Pilea peperomioides.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Pilea disclosed hereinhas been given the variety denomination ‘MOSPILMOJ’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication is herein number 2020/1425, filed Jun. 12, 2020 whichincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘MOSPILMOJ’ originated as a naturally occurring, branchmutation of an unnamed Pilea peperomioides plant (not patented). In Juneof 2019, the inventor discovered the mutation at his commercialgreenhouse in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, The Netherlands on an unnamedPilea peperomioides plant, growing amongst a cultivated population ofunnamed Pilea peperomioides plants. The mutation was noted for itsunique leaf variegation. The mutation was harvested from the motherplant by removing the portion of rhizome bearing the variegated foliage.The resulting rhizome cuttings, which each showed some slight variationin the leaf variegation pattern and color, were each re-rooted inindividual nursery containers. These new plants were then grown to amature size in order to select one plant from all other progeny thatexhibited the optimal variegation pattern and color. In June of 2020,the inventor selected one of said variegated plants which he deemed toexhibit the optimal variegation pattern and color. Upon furtherconfirmation of stability, ‘MOSPILMOJ’ was selected forcommercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘MOSPILMOJ’, by way ofmeristematic tissue culture, was first initiated in the summer of 2020at a commercial greenhouse in Nieuwerkerk aan den Ussel, TheNetherlands. Through greater than 50 subsequent generations, the uniquefeatures of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MOSPILMOJ’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘MOSPILMOJ’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘MOSPILMOJ’ as a new and distinct Pilea cultivar:

-   -   1. Pilea ‘MOSPILMOJ’ exhibits a broad, spreading to upright        growth habit; and    -   2. Pilea ‘MOSPILMOJ’ exhibits variegated orbicular foliage, with        long petioles, borne on a short main stem; and    -   3. Pilea ‘MOSPILMOJ’ exhibits green to yellow-green juvenile        foliage that is mottled with a very light shade of yellow-green,        generally appearing as a yellowish coloration; and    -   4. Pilea ‘MOSPILMOJ’ exhibits green mature foliage that is        conspicuously mottled with a light shade of yellow-green,        generally appearing as a very light green coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, two exemplary plants of‘MOSPILMOJ’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Nieuwerkerk aan denIJssel, the Netherlands. These plants are approximately 12 weeks old,shown planted in a 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage of ‘MOSPILMOJ’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage of ‘MOSPILMOJ’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in February of 2021describe averages from two 12 week-old ‘MOSPILMOJ’ plants grown in a 12cm nursery container at a greenhouse in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, theNetherlands. Plants were produced in a greenhouse, using conventionalgreenhouse production protocols for Pilea plants. The ambienttemperature of the greenhouse was held at a constant 20 degrees Celsius,and plants were grown under light shade (approximately 110 μmol/m2/s),as too much shade will affect the leaf color expression. Irrigation wassupplied using ebb and flood tables and plants were fertilized with a0.5 EC nutrient solution containing a micronutrients. Beneficialpredatory insects were released on a weekly basis during production andchemical pest control measures utilized as needed.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘MOSPILMOJ’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘MOSPILMOJ’ and a comparison with the parentplant and most similar commercial comparator are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial with a broad, spreading            to upright growth habit; leaves growing from a short stem.        -   Plant shape.—Broad obovate.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—10.7 cm.        -   Plant spread.—22.6 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation type.—Stem cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 days to            produce a rooted cutting at approximately 20 to 21 degrees            Celsius.        -   Time to produce a finished plant.—Approximately 11 to 15            weeks to produce a marketable finished plant in a 12 cm pot.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            susceptibility nor resistance to pests and diseases common            to Pilea sp. have been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to temperatures as high as            40 degrees Celsius; moderately tolerant of rain and wind.-   Roots:    -   -   General.—Sparse to moderately dense, moderately branched            root system; fleshy rhizomes give rise to smaller fleshy            roots.        -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately            deep.        -   Texture.—Smooth; no root hairs.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—A single main stem arises directly from the            soil.        -   Number of main shoots per plant.—1.        -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—0.        -   Length of main shoot.—3.7 cm.        -   Diameter of main shoot.—0.8 cm.        -   Internode length on main shoot.—0.5 cm.        -   Attitude.—Erect.        -   Aspect.—Rounded.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture and luster.—Glabrous, smooth and matte.        -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 152B.        -   Color, mature.—Greyed-red, nearest to RHS 178A.        -   Color at internodes.—Greyed-red, nearest to RHS 178A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity.—17 leaves per plant, as observed.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Lamina.—Attitude — Nearly 90 degrees to the petiole. Shape —            Orbicular. Length — 6.8 cm, excluding the petiole. Width —            6.9 cm. Apex — Rounded. Base — Rounded, yet slightly more            blunt by comparison to the apex. Aspect — Slightly concave.            Margins — Very slightly crenate; not undulated. Texture and            luster, adaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous, and moderately            glossy. Texture and luster, abaxial surface — Smooth,            glabrous, and slightly glossy. Color — Juvenile foliage,            adaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and            yellow-green, RHS 143C and 144A; irregularly mottled with a            lighter shade of yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS            145B and 145C. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface —            Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A; irregularly mottled with            a lighter shade of yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145B. Mature            foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS 137B, with            conspicuous yellow-green mottling; nearest to a mixture of            RHS 144C, 146D, 147B and 147C. Mature foliage, abaxial            surface — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 146A and            146B, with conspicuous yellow-green mottling; nearest to a            mixture of RHS 144B, 145A, and 146D. Venation — Pattern —            Laciniate. Color, adaxial surfaces — Veins are the same            color as the surrounding foliar surface: Green, nearest to            RHS 137B, with conspicuous yellow-green mottling; nearest to            a mixture of RHS 144C, 146D, 147B and 147C. Color, abaxial            surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C.        -   Petiole.—Attitude — Upright and slightly outward. Strength —            Somewhat weak to moderately strong. Length — 9.3 cm.            Diameter — 0.3 cm. Texture and luster, adaxial surface —            Smooth, glabrous and slightly glossy. Texture and luster,            abaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous and slightly glossy.            Color, adaxial surface — Greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture            of RHS 177B and 177C. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to a mixture of RHS 146C and 146D, and lightly            suffused with a yellow coloration, nearest to RHS 152D.        -   Stipule.—Shape — Deltoid. Length — 0.9 cm. Width — 1.2 cm.            Margin — Entire; not undulated. Texture and luster — Smooth,            glabrous and slightly glossy. Color, adaxial and abaxial            surfaces — Greyed-white, nearest to a mixture of RHS 159B            and 159C, with a broad main vein colored greyed-orange,            nearest to RHS 170D.-   Inflorescence: To date, ‘MOSPILMOJ’ has not flowered.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MOSPILMOJ’ differ from the parent, anunnamed Pilea peperomioides plant (not patented), in the characteristicsdescribed in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘MOSPILMOJ’ The parent General coloration of theGreen and conspicuously Green; no mature adaxial foliage mottled with alight shade variegation surface; expression of of yellow-green,generally present. variegation, appearing as a very light greencoloration.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MOSPILMOJ’ differ from the closest knowncommercial comparator, Pilea peperomioides ‘White Splash’ (CommunityPlant Variety Rights application number 2019/3122), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘MOSPILMOJ’ ‘White Splash’ General colorationGreen and conspicuously Green and of the mature mottled with a lightshade conspicuously adaxial foliage of yellow-green, generally mottledwith a white surface appearing as a very light coloration. greencoloration. Expression of Conspicuous; abundant. Less prominent; lessvariegation. abundant. Environmental Lower light levels will Noenvironmental influence turn the mottling from a effect on on foliagecolor, yellowish coloration to a variegation. very light greencoloration.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Pilea plantnamed ‘MOSPILMOJ’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.